CATWOMAN
REAL NAME:
Selina Kyle
OCCUPATION:
Professional Thief
BASE:
Gotham City
HEIGHT:
5 feet 7 inches
WEIGHT:
125 pounds
EYES:
Blue
HAIR:
Black
Like Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle was orphaned at a young age. But unlike Bruce, Selina had no caretakers or family fortune to support her. Growing up alone on the mean streets of Gotham, Selina was forced to resort to petty crime in order to survive. She soon became one of the city’s most capable criminals. As Catwoman, Selina prowls the streets of Gotham, preying on the wealthy while guarding Gotham’s fellow castaways.
• Selina’s love of felines led her to choose a cat-related nickname. In fact, much of her stolen loot has been donated to cat-saving charities.
• The athletic Selina prefers to use her feline agility to evade her foes, but she won’t hesitate to use her retractable claws.
• Catwoman may be a hardened criminal, but she also has a soft spot for Gotham’s orphans. Proceeds from her high-profile crimes often go to Gotham City orphanages.
• Selina has been an ally to Batman several times. However, their alliances never last, since Selina is disinterested in ending her thieving ways.
BIOGRAPHIES
J. E. BRIGHT is the author of many novels, novelizations, and novelty books for children and young adults. He lives in a sunny apartment in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, with his difficult but soft cat, Mabel, and his sweet kitten, Bernard.
LUCIANO VECCHIO was born in 1982 and currently lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. With experience in illustration, animation, and comics, his works have been published in the US, Spain, UK, France, and Argentina. His credits include Ben 10 (DC Comics), Cruel Thing (Norma), Unseen Tribe (Zuda Comics), and Sentinels (Drumfish Productions).
GLOSSARY
alter ego (AWL-tur EE-goh)—if a person has an alter ego, then they have another identity that is often a secret. Bruce Wayne’s alter ego is Batman.
ancient (AYN-shuhnt)—very old
artifact (ART-uh-fakt)—an ancient object made by human beings like a tool or weapon
feline (FEE-line)—a cat, or like a cat
patron (PAY-truhn)—someone who gives money to help another person, activity, or cause
prowler (PROUL-er)—someone or something that sneaks around quietly as if hunting for prey
sistrum (SIS-truhm)—an ancient Egyptian musical instrument
socialites (SOH-shuh-lites)—wealthy or important people
swarm (SWORM)—a group of animals that gathers or moves in large numbers
tuxedo (tuhk-SEE-doh)—a man’s suit worn for formal occasions. It usually includes a black jacket and pants, a white shirt, and a bow tie.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Bruce doesn’t like the appetizers he eats at the party. What are your least favorite foods?
2. Batman and Alfred adopt a cat as a pet. Do you have any pets? What kind of animal would be your dream pet? Talk about pets and their place in your life.
3. This book has ten illustrations. Which one is your favorite? Why?
WRITING PROMPTS
1. Bruce Wayne knows that Selina Kyle is also Catwoman, but Selina doesn’t know that Bruce is also Batman. What kinds of advantages does this give Bruce? Write down as many as you can.
2. Selina used the symbol of a cat for her costume. Bruce used a bat for his. If you were a super hero, what animal would you choose as your symbol? Write about your costume, then draw it.
3. Imagine you’re an archeologist who digs up an ancient Egyptian artifact. What does the artifcat look like? What was it used for? Does it have any special powers? Write about your artifact, then draw it.
